Pro-Chancellors should not meddle in varsities contracts –Babalakin

The Chairman Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Wale Babalakin is not a small fry far among the nation’s icons. Today, his business interest criss-crosses law, real estate, aviation, construction, oil and gas, telecoms, maritime, banking and financing, among others. But in this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA Babalakin, also the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri (Unimaid), spoke extensively on issues bordering on university education. Chancellors of Nigerian federal universities today are hell-bent in ensuring ivory towers are lifted of Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited. Babalakin berated Pro-Chancellors of universities would always want to exercise their influence in the award of contracts which often run them on a collision course with their Vice-Chancellors and university management. The alumnus of the University of Lagos Faculty of Law and Cambridge University of London assured however assured the present crop of Pro-Chancellors under which he chairs would not dabble into such because they are worried about the state of university education and are ready to put in more efforts to reverse it. Dr. Babalakin an astute philanthropist and a member of the Body of Benchers, said the nation’s development will continue to be elusive except university education is strengthened. He also said the autonomy of Nigerian universities is the only way ivory towers can recapture their lost glory. Excerpts:

There are allegations that some Pro-Chancellors of universities want to dictate how contracts are awarded, when and who gets what? Would you relate this to your experience as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri?

Well, I wish somebody else told me the story. Whatever I say, may fall under the category of immodesty. But if it would further education, I would then say a few things. When I assumed duty as Pro-Chancellor of Unaimaid, we took a position that we are there to solve education challenges and nothing more. As I speak today and these facts, we have expended the resources of the university of Maiduguri solely for the university.

When we got to Unimaid, the sight of a brand new car in any faculty was unusual. Today, there is no department in that university without a brand new car. When we got to unimaid, developmental issues did not occur rapidly, we took a position that we would ensure all projects are delivered on time. To the glory of God we have achieved this. Over 20 projects which we commenced are ready for commissioning all within 15 months. The TetFUN 9tertiary Education Fund) intervention projects were carried out in a manner which we believe the commission was very happy with us.

We also subscribed to the idea that university education requires creative funding. Waiting for government, no matter how substantial, to continue to fund university education means there will be no development in the university sector. Maiduguri is not a commercial centre comparable to Lagos or Abuja, but opportunities are there as well. As we speak today, through creative thinking, we enjoy 20 hours of uninterrupted electricity in the university everyday, and all year round. The question now is ‘why not 24’? That is our ambition. But I’m reliably told that with20 hours uninterrupted power, we are probably the only federal institution with the most amount of electricity.

Before the end of this year, we will commission our guest house in Abuja. This has been on the drawing table for over 25 years. When we got in there, we realised this was a potential source of good revenue for the university and we pursued it. This project, when finished, would generate revenue outside the university’s resources. It will shock ypu that we did not borrow a dime to build the edifice. All we did was utilize our little IGR with lots discipline. The idea is that when this revenue starts coming, we are going to use the money to train exceptional students from Unimaid in the best universities abroad. It’s going to be a source of scholarship with the understanding that these students would come back to Unimaid and enhance scholarship there.

I’m surprised to hear that pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors are always at loggerheads over contract awards. In my near four years in Maiduguri, there has never been any issue, no dispute, no quarrel and as the Pro-Chancellor, I have not participated or taken interest in any projects. Awards of contracts go through a system where I insist on the best value for money irrespective of who delivers it.

Pro-chancellors as the head of universities, I feel, shouldn’t descend to the level of issuing contracts, while the management too shouldn’t it see their role as simply to award contracts; it is to create creative manner of funding g education; and if Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors realise this, they will not even have the time for arguments over contracts.

As the Chairman of Committee of Pro-chancellors of Nigerian Universities, what is the thinking in that sector? Or are you comfortable with the state of education?

First, let me say this with all sense of responsibility, the crop of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerians universities today are dedicated to the furtherance of university education. The country should commend them for their efforts especially in the face of their challenges. We meet quarterly and during emergencies to debate education, share ideas and assist each other. The commitment and quality of debates at these meetings is one of the highest I’ve see nationwide. I do not think there is any Pro-Chancellor who thinks the university system today is acceptable; we all believe there is great room for improving the system.

Speaking for myself, I believe the university system is at the crossroad. I believe very strongly that the system is incapable of supporting Nigeria’s development generally. I believe there is a direct correlation between the quality of education in the system and the welfare of its people; and that today, Nigeria’s welfare is very poor because the quality of education is also poor. However, I’m not disillusioned. I believe President GooodluckJonathan is keen on education being repositioned; and he has demonstrated this at many fora.

Could you explain how?

One, on the tenure of university council, once the President was told the council’s tenure was statutory, he reversed the decision dissolving the Governing Council and reinstating them and stating clearly that every Council must spend their four year tenure. We need this level of stability to make these enduring changes in the university. If you do not know the tenure of your administration, how can you plan?

Second, although the university amendment bill which gave autonomy to the university council in the appointment of university administrators was signed in 2003, but did not begin operation until 2007 under late President Mus Yar’ Adua, and President Jonathan has tried not to interfere with the appointment. With this, the university system has achieved nearly 90 per cent success within its first five years of operation.

Third, soon after the president was elected, he held an education seminar where a roadmap was presented and discussed and now awaiting implementation. These are commendable efforts. The ball is now back in our courts as administrators to take advantage of presidential encouragement in refashioning the education system in Nigeria. I am a firm believer that in waiting for the federal, state or local government to champion the cause of education alone will not create any monumental progress.

What efforts are you making to ensure that the Federal Government- and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Agreement signed into law in2009 is implemented to the letter?

One of the things slowing down Nigeria today is that we have a cavalier attitude to agreement. In our culture, agreements are only to be obeyed if they are favourable to us. This is a wrong attitude that reflects the level of our underdevelopment. As the Chairman of the Implementation Monitoring Committee for the 2009 the agreement with ASUU and non-academic unions, I can say categorically that it has been a relatively good outing. We’ve had more months of peace in the universities than in previous years. But we also had two or three industrial strikes that are inconsistent with the agreement. The first one was the sympathy strike by ASUU in support of universities in the Southeast when they were all closed down for having problems with their proprietors. There is no provision in the agreement for sympathy strike. I did make a statement at the university of Maiduguri convocation condemning this action. The second strike occurred owing to the implementation of the 2009 Agreement in the area of retirement age of scholars. That strike, though avoidable, was caused by the inefficiency of the federal government. And I want it to be on record that it was promptly resolved by Mr President under the leadership of the Secretary to the Government Pius Anyim, Minister of Education, and other committed players in the education sector. Serious commendation must go to this team for the resolution of that crisis. Strike as a weapon of protest should be used when there is a demonstrable infraction, or a clear violation of agreement of stated position. And I hope my brothers in all the unions will adopt this approach. Let us explore the mechanism provided for dialogue, honour the various agreement before embarking on the industrial action.

How can we make government wake up to this?

Each time people mentioned government, people easily forget that government is only representatives and no more. We as citizens should be the one not only suggesting to government but providing a roadmap.

Have you seen any government who doesn’t want to succeed? But it’s not enough for gifted citizens to say governments do this or that. Have you formed yourself into a pressure group or civil society and come up with an education agenda to be pursued? Have you as an individual, come back to your locality and said we are going to have a primary or secondary school that will be the envy of this nation? I went to one of the best, arguably the best secondary schools secondary schools in the country which was Government College Ibadan (laughs).But there is school called Loyola Jesuit in a very remote and obscure Gida Mangoro in Abuja, somebody created that oasisi of learning in the desert of ignorance. And four years consecutively best students in WAEC West Africa came from. In a particular year, the first, second third and fourth best students in WAEC emerged from the school. That is leadership. For as long as you think you can do things by cutting corners